Metering and dispensing control system



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T @FF'HCEE.

MFTERINGAND DISPENSING coNTnoL SYSTEM 6 Claims,

1 invention has to do with control systems for accurately metering and dispensing, fluids, particularly where it is necessary or desirable to efiect the. control at a station remote from the metering and dispensing location.

The invention has special applicability for a wide variety of uses; requiring accuracy of metering of a fluid, e. g. to be combined with other materials in manufacturing processes, and where exactness of; control with respect to the quantity or fluid dispensed is essential because of such con: sideration as high cost of the fluidand therefore the necessityof avoiding excess use or wasta e, or; becauseof requirements for exactness in proportioning. As an example, the invention has been found highly successful for accuratelyv metering and dispensing expensive. vitamin oils for admixturewith other ingredients of animal foods And as indicated, the present system is of further and particular. advantage for installations requiring remote control of the fluid metering and dis: arsi Generally speaking, the invention is predicated upon, the use of ametering pump ofany suitable positive. displacement ty e operable to. deliver l the; same, predetermined quantity of fluid for each cycleof thepump operation, and a remote control capableof manual settin in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating; cycles, and of discontinuing the delivery of useable fluid bythe pump. after it has operated a corresponding number of cycles. Ordinarily the pumpwill befloperated by an electric motor. with the control, functioning to start and stop the motor in" accordance with the required cycles of the um p i a.

In its. adaptation for being stationed remotely from, the. pump, the control employs a movable element, driven by a, motor operating in synohro;

with the pump motor, through a range predete mined by the manual setting. Thus by virtue of. such setting, thecontrolelement is caused to ldiscontinue theuseable fluid discharge by the pum preferably .by de-energizing the synchronize pump and controlmotors, upon completion of a.,.predetermined number of rotations of the control motor, and therefore of the synchronized pump motor. As will appear, the control is capae ble of being set, independently of the driving motor, to whatever position desired forcorrespondence. With the required cycles of pump operation, and then of functioning to maintain the effective pumpoperation through exactly the set range.

Additional features of the system; havato do 'ttli fifl zlflary QQR CPIsWhQE bE QQ.121M 21Q lilgt;

line is closed automatically upon completion of the metering cycles, and sustained closingof the motor circuits may be made dependent upon the availability of fluid supply to the metering pump.

All the above mentioned features of the invention as well as additional objects and the detailsof an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is anelevational view of the indicator panel;

Fig.2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the remote control, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view,.partly in per-, spective, illustrative of the entire metering and control system.

Referring first to Fig. 3, the system comprises a metering pump unit generally indicated at It; functioning as previously described to deliver 1 cycle of operation a predetermined quantity-of fluid, and a control mechanism generally indicated at ll, capable of beingstationed; at a remote location and operable bymanual setting to cause the metering pump to operate an exact; number of cycles in accordance with the control setting.

It will be understood that the meterin pump may be of any suitable positive displacement type capable of delivering on each cycle of its operation an exact quantity of the fluid. Typically the rotary metering pump I 2 is shown to be of a positivev displacement gear type driven by a motorl3; so. related to the control motor M as torotate in synchronism therewith. Such relation preferablyis maintained by using. synchronous motors, the relative speeds of which are constant for all cycles of energizing current. The pump ID is shown to take suction through line [5 from an appropriate; vessel l6' containing the liquid I! to be dispensed, and to discharge the. liquid through line I8; into a mixer 19 containing an agitatOrZD operating'to uniformly distribute. the liquid throughoutthematerial with which it is to be mixed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2; the control mechanism I l contained within a. suitable housing 2|, comprising a shaft. 22' extending through the: indicator panel 23. and carrying a gear 2d driven by motor [4' at a greatly reduced speed ratio; for example of about 3600 to 1'. The motor-to-shaft drive is shown conventionally-tocomprise a motor shaft worm 25' meshing with gear 26 on shaft- 2'H supported by wall 2'1, and carrying a worm 29, driving the gear 24.

The shaft. 22 carries between panel 23- and a window 3am thehousing: 21:- an-- indicator- =3- t which shows the angular position of the shaft with relation to arcuate scales 33 and 34 on the panel 23, scale 33 being calibrated in terms of operating cycles of the metering pump l2, and scale 34 showing corresponding values for the quantities or volumes of the liquid displaced by the pump. Being fixed to the shaft 22, indicator 3| traverses the scale in direct relation to the number of rotations of the synchronized motors l3 and I4, and therefore in direct relation to the number of metering pump operating cycles.

Shaft 22 carries a sleeve to the outer end of which is attached an indicator 36 rotatable. with the sleeve, relative to the shaft and indicator 3|. The sleeve carries at the inside of the panel 23 a control element 31 in the form of a switch actuating arm having the later described action in relation to the range or angularity of the simultaneous shaft and sleeve rotation. The rotative drive of sleeve 35 by shaft 22 or the gear 2 3, is controlled by a clutch 38, for example of a solenoid actuated type comprising an annular field winding 39 surrounding a core sleeve 40 having a longitudinal slot 4| receiving a pin 42 carried by sleeve 35, the core sleeve being axially movable in response to energization of the coil 39. Sleeve i3 has a toothed surface 63 engageable with a corresponding surface 4 3 on the gear 24, as the surfaces are brought together against the resistance of spring 45 which normally maintains them in the disengaged relation shown in Fig. 2. As best illustrated in Fig. 3, rotation of sleeve 35 and the parts carried thereby, relative to shaft 22 and the indicator 3|, is resisted by a spring 35 terminally engaging a projection 4'! on indicator 3|, and an extension 38 of the indicator 36. Relative rotation of t. e

indicators in an opposite direction is arrested by engagement of arm 49 on the extension 43, with projection 41.

Provision is made for manually adjusting or setting the angular position of shaft 22, indicators 3| and 36, and the control element 3?. Such setting may be effected by a stem 5i} having a knurled head 5| and carrying a worm 52 meshing with gear 53 on the end of shaft 22. With the clutch 38 disengaged, stem 5e may be manually turned to rotate shaft 22 and indicator 3| to any selected position along the dial markings.

Current is supplied to the controlasystem through lines 5d and 55 in which is placed the switch 56. The line 54 connects through 57 and 58 with metering pump motor l3 and clutch coil 39, and through line 59 with the motor l4. Line 55 runs to a self-opening (momentarily closed) switch 6!), and through switch 68- with a double throw toggle switch conventionally indicated at 12 and manually closeable by the throw element 62. Switch 60 connects through lines 63 and 6 with motors I4 and |3, and clutch coil 39,,and through line G5 with the stationary pole of switch [2. Throw element Bl is engageable by arm 3 to open the switch, as and in the manner later explained.

It may be desirable to prevent operation of the control system, including the motors, should for any reason there be a failure of the liquid supply to the metering pump. For this purpose I may provide a secondary control of any type responsive to the pump outlet pressure, which serves generally to permit energization of the circuits when the pump is taking liquid, but to keep the circuits open upon failure of the liquid supply. Referring again to Fig. 3, liquid delivery from line I8 into the mixer l9 may occur through 4 a nozzle 38 at the delivery side of which is placed a pressure responsive, diaphragm type control 69 operable to close a normally open switch 10 in line H leading to the movable contactor of switch 12'. When the pump I2 is delivering liquid, the outlet pressure will be sufiicient to exert and maintain, through the control 69, a closing force on switch I0. If the pump is not delivering liquid, the switch will remain open. A spring loaded check valve V, opening with the fluid flow during operation of the metering pump, may

' be placed in line Hi to maintain liquid in the line between the valve and pump.

It may also be desirable to provide in the discharge line I8 a shut-off valve which,instantly upon completion of the cycle range for which the pump is set to operate, will serve the dual purposes of completely discontinuing any liquid delivery from the pump, and of imposing a fluid resistance causing stoppage of the pump. For

this purpose I may place in line l8, preferably between control 69 and the pump, a normally closed solenoid actuated valve 74 connected by conductors T5 and it with lines 51 and 64.

In considering the operation of the system, assume that it is desired to deliver to the mixer IS a quantity of the liquid I1 corresponding to the displacement of cycles or revolutions of the metering pump l2. Clutch 38 being disengaged, shaft 22 and indicator 3| may be rotated by the stem 58 to the dial position shown in Fig. 1. Since spring 46 tends to maintain arm 49 in engagement with the extension ll of indicator 3|, the described setting will also rotat sleeve 35, element 3? and the indicator 36 to a degree corresponding exactly to the position of indicator 3|. The control is now preset to cause the meterin pump to operate through a range of 90 cycles.

By manually throwing the switch element 62, 7

both sides 63 and '12 of th switch 6| are closed to simultaneously energize the motor l3 and I4 and throw the clutch 38 so thatthe drive from gear 24 is transmitted directly through the clutch to sleeve 49. By momentarily holding the throw element 62 closed, the element may thereafter return to open position with switch 12 remaining closed providing switch If! is closed by the pressure responsive control 59. Thus if the metering pump is not displacing liquid, switch 10 will remain open and the circuits de-energized. Assuming switches '52 and iii to remain closed, the drive transmitted from motor |4 rotates indicator 36 and the control arm 3'! counterclockwise in the aspect of Fig. 1, while indicator 3| retains its original set position at 90 cycles. When indicator 35: and arm 3'! reach 0 position, at which point the pump will have operated 90 cycles, the arm engages element 51 to open the switch 72 and simultaneously de-energize the motor and clutch circuits. Then, as previously indicated, valve M closes to cut off the pump discharge. Upon disengagement of the clutch, spring 46 returns indicator 36 and arm 3'! to their starting positions of correspondence with I indicator 3!. The described operation then may be repeated at the same initial settings of the indicators and control arm 37, or at whatever different setting desired in accordance with the quantity of fluid to be dispensed by the pump.

I claim:

1. A control system comprising a metering pump operable to deliver for use a predetermined quantity of material for each cycle of the pump anism for controlling the delivery of useable material by the pump, said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a second motor for said control and operating in synchronism with the pump motor, a driving connection between said control and second motor and comprising means for setting the position of the control independently of its connection with the motor, and means operable in accordance with the position of said control to discontinue the useable material delivery by the pump after it has operated said predetermined number of cycles.

2. A control system comprising a metering pump operable to deliver for use a predetermined quantity of material for each cycle of the pump operation, a motor for drivin said pump, mechanism for controlling the operation of the pump, said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a second motor for said control and operating in synchronism with the pump motor, a driving connection between said control and second motor and comprising means for setting the position of the control independently of its connection with the motor, and means operable in accordance with the position of said control to discontinue the operation of said motors after the pump has operated said predetermined number of cycles.

3. A control system comprising a metering pump operable to deliver for use a predetermined quantity of material for each cycle of the pump operation, a motor for driving said pump, mechanism for controlling the operation of the pump, said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a second motor for said control and operating in synchronism with the pump motor, said control comprising an electric switch, a movable element operable to actuate said switch, a driving connection between said second motor and element, and means for manually setting the position of said element independently of said second motor, said element bein operable to actuate said switch to discontinue the operation anism for controlling the operation of the pump,

said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a second motor for said control and operating in synchronism with the pump motor, said control comprising an electric switch, a movable element operable to actuate said switch, a driving connection between said second motor and element, a clutch in said driving connection disengageable upon actuation of said switch, a valve operable upon actuation of said switch to close off fluid delivery by said pump, and means for manually setting the position of said element independently of said second motor, said element being operable to actuate said switch, to discontinue the operation of said motors and to also effect disengagement of said clutch and operation of said valve to close off said fluid delivery, after the pump has operated said predetermined number of cycles.

5. A control system comprising a metering pump operable to deliver for use a predetermined quantity of material for each cycle of the pump operation, an electric motor for driving said pump and having an energizing circuit, mechanism for controlling the operation of the pump, said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a switch in said energizing circuit and operable in accordance with the position of said control to deenergize said motor after the pump has operated said predetermined number of cycles, a second switch in said energizing circuit in series with the first mentioned switch, and means responsive to the pump discharge pressure for closing said second switch when said pump is delivering material.

6. A control system comprising a metering pump operable to deliver for use a predetermined quantity of material for each cycle of the pump operation, a synchronous motor for driving said pump, mechanism for controlling the operation of the pump, said mechanism comprising a settable control adapted to be selectively positioned in accordance with a predetermined number of pump operating cycles, a second synchronous motor for said control and operating in synchronism with the pump motor, a common electrical circuit for said motors, a switch in said circuit and operable in accordance with the position of said control to deenergize the motors after the pump has operated a predetermined number of cycles, a second switch in said circuit in series with the first mentioned switch, and means responsive to the pump discharge pressure for closing said second switch when said pump is delivering material.

EARL G. SPANGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,046,053 Bowser Dec. 3, 1912 1,328,101 Pressler Jan. 13, 920 1,974,857 Winton Sept. 25, 1934 2,018,538 Webb Oct. 22, 1935 2,116,777 Brayer May 10, 1938 2,319,444 Crosby May 8, 1943 

